Gov. Sonny Perdue recognized three corporate forest landowners in Georgia this week for their stewardship in land management and practices benefiting the state’s wildlife.

Georgia Power, Plum Creek and Temple-Inland received awards Wednesday for participating in the 2007 Forestry for Wildlife Partnership, a program administered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. The Forestry for Wildlife Partnership is a voluntary annual program that promotes blending wildlife conservation into corporate forestry practices and offers a variety of choices from which landowners can build a program compatible with their forest management objectives.

Perdue said Georgia Power, Plum Creek and Temple-Inland set “an example for Georgia's private sector in the conservation of Georgia's precious natural resources.”

“They have gone beyond the basic regulatory standards and have integrated conservation planning, training and practices into their business models. I commend each of these companies for their outstanding stewardship that will benefit generations to come."

The companies have helped improve a total of 1.2 million acres for wildlife. Wildlife Resources recognized the three as Forestry for Wildlife Partners for integrating wildlife conservation practices into their forest management programs. Some of the practices included:

** Preparing wildlife conservation plans that detail natural resources inventories and outline management strategies that combine forest and wildlife aspects.

** Providing internal training opportunities for employees on how to blend forestland management with wildlife-friendly practices for multiple natural resource benefits.

** Incorporating wildlife management techniques into current land-use planning and timber management practices.

** Providing valuable data for Wildlife Resources research projects.

** Providing public recreational opportunities on corporate forestlands.

** Participating in partnerships with conservation organizations through programs such as Partners in Flight, the Longleaf Alliance, the state Breeding Bird Atlas, and the Georgia Amphibians and Reptiles Atlas.

** Managing riparian forests for wildlife use and water quality protection.

Habitat is the key to wildlife abundance. Georgia has more than 24 million acres of forestland. Of that land base, 93 percent is privately owned. Corporate forest landowners manage 18 percent.

While noting that the framework of large land holdings is changing in the state, Wildlife Resources Director Dan Forster said Forestry for Wildlife Partnerships provides a "great opportunity" for green corporations and a positive impact on wildlife.

"The primary benefit has been the ability to work with the corporations that might tremendously affect wildlife conservation ... and being able to develop a program from the bottom up with the corporations' input," Forster said.

Conservation efforts benefit from Forestry for Wildlife through management of endangered red-cockaded woodpecker habitats, managing and monitoring bald eagle and swallow-tailed kite nesting, managing isolated wetlands critical to protected reptiles and amphibians like the gopher frog, managing rare remnant Coosa Valley Prairie and Black Belt Prairie habitats containing endangered plants, and providing numerous public hunting opportunities.

All of the conservation enhancement components and reporting procedures are compatible with the American Forest and Paper Association’s Sustainable Forestry Initiative, a voluntary approach within the forest industry to maintain high environmental standards on lands managed by corporate landowners. The association honored Wildlife Resources with the Wildlife Stewardship Award for developing and coordinating the Forestry for Wildlife Program.

Call (770) 761-1697 or go to www.georgiawildlife.com for more information about Forestry for Wildlife or other private lands initiatives.